Major Academic/Research Interest

Keywords

Research in the Averitt Lab focuses on the neurobiology of pain and analgesia. Ongoing research topics include (1) examining the mechanisms by which inflammatory mediators initiate and maintain pain sensitivity, (2) examining the neurophysiological substrate underlying sex differences in pain and analgesia, and (3) translational research to support optimizing pain associated with burn injury.

Project List

Sexually Dimorphic Effects of Serotonin on Pain: Many chronic pain conditions occur predominantly (migraine, fibromyalgia) or only (endometriosis, vulvodynia) in women. There is evidence that pain conditions are exacerbated by hormone fluctuations, yet the effect hormones have on pain mechanisms remains unclear. The peripheral serotonin (5HT) system represents one pain mechanism that may be modulated by hormones. Our previous research indicates that 5HT sensitizes sensory neurons expressing the transient receptor potential V1 (TRPV1) ion channel to send ‘pain’ signals to the brain. No studies have examined whether hormones modulate serotonergic potentiation of TRPV1-expressing sensory neurons. Current research in the Averitt lab indicates that 5HT evokes greater pain in female rodents, with the greatest sensitivity occurring when hormone levels are highest, although our most current research is indicating that this appears to be dependent on pain modality. The overall goal of this line of research in the Averitt lab is to identify whether hormones modulate the ‘pain-producing’ effects of 5HT on the TRPV1 population of sensory neurons and what interactions between hormones, 5HT receptors, and the TRPV1 ion channel occur. We postulate that this mechanism may underlie the increased prevalence some pain disorders in women. We are examining this mechanism utilizing pre-clinical behavioral studies, sensory neuron cultures, and translational methodologies.

We also have ongoing collaborative projects (1) with the NIH and the Army examining the analgesic effects of the TRPV1 agonist resiniferatoxin on burn pain and preemptive anesthetics on neuropathic pain, (2) with Dr. Camelia Maier (TWU) discovering potential analgesic properties of novel plant extracts, and (3) with Dr. Michael Bergel (TWU) examining the epigenetics of chronic pain and morphine analgesia.

6. Loyd, D.R. and Murphy, A.Z. (2014) The Neuroanatomy of Sexual Dimorphism in Opioid Analgesia. Invited Review in a Special Issue on The Importance of Sex in the Etiology, Presentation, and Treatment of Neurological Disorders. Experimental Neurology, 259C: 57-63.

BIOL 4344 Pathophysiology: Mechanisms responsible for improper functioning of the adult human body in disease states, building upon existing knowledge of normal functioning. Emphasis on the understanding of dysfunction at the cellular level and how dysfunction leads to pathological states.

BIOL 4681 Biology Seminar: Student presentations based on summarizing and critiquing current peer-reviewed research literature on a topic of choice.

Dr. Averitt also mentors undergraduate and graduate students in research.